I love travelling.
I love Shimla.
I love travelling to and living in Shimla.
Ergo, this photo-blog is dedicated to Shimla. Mostly.

Why this blog is called "Gallimaufry".

gal-uh-MAW-free\, noun.

Originally meaning "a hash of various kinds of meats," "gallimaufry" comes from French galimafrée; in Old French, from the word galer, "to rejoice, to make merry"; in old English: gala + mafrer: "to eat much," and from Medieval Dutch maffelen: "to open one's mouth wide."

It's also a dish made by hashing up odds and ends of food; a heterogeneous mixture; a hodge-podge; a ragout; a confused jumble; a ridiculous medley; a promiscuous (!) assemblage of persons.

Those of you who know me, will, I’m sure, understand how well some of these phrases (barring the "promiscuous" bit!) fit me.

More importantly, this blog is an ode to my love for Shimla. I hope to show you this little town through my eyes. If you don't see too many people in it, forgive me, because I'm a little chary of turning this into a human zoo.

Stop by for a spell, look at my pictures, ask me questions about Shimla, if you wish. I shall try and answer them as best as I can. Let's be friends for a while....

26 October 2010

Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart.

"Walk, Shimla, Walk!" exhorted the wise Sushil Tanwar. On 23rd October 2010, We walked from Chaura Maidan to Cecil. I'm happy to report that the young in Shimla responded with fervour. This says a lot about their spirit and their foresight. I'm equally disappointed to report the near-absence of older people. This tells me a lot about their indifference and their cynicism. I was chagrined not just because they did not show up, but because so many people came up with excuses for what kept them away... When, dear Shimlaiites, are you going to wake up to the ills that plague our lovely town? Are you ever going to involve yourself in its affais, or must one quote the poet who said:

"Ay mauj-e-sabaa de inko bhi do-chaar thapedey halk se

kuchh log kinaarey par se hii toofan ka nazaaraa karte hai"!

Sushil Tanwar who runs Ashadeep. A source of inspiration for all around him.

Little girls with big ideas.

"Pollution! Pollution! Trees are the solution!" was a popular slogan that day.

A lovely poster depicting pollution and the damages it causes.

Placards which said: "Save the environment". "Plant trees. Make Shimla beautiful". "All is well. Without trees, all is hell"!

It isn't the size of the placard, but the intention that matters!

Curious onlookers.

Curious onlooker #2.

Still, on a day of hope and excitement, we chose to focus on the positive and could only say "Sabko sanmati de bhagwaan"! (May God grant everyone good sense).

Is there any way to contact you personally? I am working for NDTV in Delhi and currently working on a travel show where one city we are focusing on is Shimla. Is there any way that I can get in touch with you. Please email me on ritikas@ndtv.com - Thanks!

Me.Me.Me.

A Request

The photographs and most of the text on this blog are the sole property of the author. Please do not use them without her permission.To do so will invite all sorts of retribution: ranging from being slapped with a handbag to hearing from the author's lawyers (who're a dreadful mix of Tulkinghorn, Grewgious, Grimwig, Heep and Jaggers).Worse yet, the author may subject you to a reading of her poems.You don't want that.